Duane Vermeulen fights off Billy Vunipola challenge to be crowned world's best No. 8

Springboks star Duane Vermeulen has been voted the world’s best No. 8 by fans around the globe after dispatching England powerhouse Billy Vunipola in a poll on social media.

The experienced 33-year-old claimed the victory with a winning margin of 54 percent on RugbyPass‘ Facebook and Instagram accounts as part of the Straight 8 Fan Vote campaign to determine the best player on the planet in each position.

Vermeulen and Vunipola were left as the last two players standing in the third and final round of the knockout bracket after having fought off the challenges of some big names in the prior two rounds.

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Featuring contributions from a host of rugby legends such as Jonny Wilkinson and Jason Robinson, as well as actor James Corden, the compelling narrative culminates in a behind-the-scenes visit to the Matt Hampson Foundation’s Get Busy Living Centre in Melton Mowbray where the ex-Leicester Tigers front row now helps others who suffer life-changing injuries in sport.

Watch: RugbyPass Exceptional Stories | Matt Hampson

RugbyPass has followed the incredible story of ex-professional rugby player Matt Hampson, who was paralysed from the neck down following a scrummaging accident while training with the England U21s in March 2005. 
In the latest documentary in our Exceptional Stories series, we learn about the 35-year-old prop’s incredible journey since his devastating injury 15 years ago at Franklin’s Gardens.
Featuring contributions from a host of rugby legends such as Jonny Wilkinson and Jason Robinson, as well as actor James Corden, the compelling narrative culminates in a behind-the-scenes visit to the Matt Hampson Foundation’s Get Busy Living Centre in Melton Mowbray where the ex-Leicester Tigers front row now helps others who suffer life-changing injuries in sport.

After having thrashed Argentine behemoth Javier Ortega Desio with 92 percent of the vote, Vermeulen romped home in similar fashion against South African-born Irishman CJ Stander with more than 75 percent of the public’s backing in the semi-final.

On the flip side of the draw, Vunipola defeated barnstorming Welshman Taulupe Faletau after accruing 75 percent of the vote, before going on to thump another Welshman in Ross Moriarty with well over 80 percent of the fans’ approval.

In the end, though, it was the 54-test Vermeulen – who claimed man-of-the-match honours in last year’s World Cup final – who proved to to be too good for Saracens star Vunipola, with fans inducting the Kubota Spears recruit into the RugbyPass Straight 8 Fan Vote World XV.

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He joins an elite group of players already voted into the side, which includes fellow South African and reigning World Rugby player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit and All Blacks tyrant Ardie Savea in the loose forwards.

Vermeulen and du Toit aren’t the only Springboks in the squad, with wing Cheslin Kolbe and lock Eben Etzebeth also featuring alongside Fijian flyer Semi Radradra, towering Englishman Maro Itoje and Scotland skipper Stuart Hogg.

The sixth instalment of the Straight 8 Fan Vote is due to get underway in the coming days.